Escapement mechanism of typographical composing-machines.



J. E. 'BILLINGTON. ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM or TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18. I914. 1 13 204,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. E. BILLINGTON. I ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM OF TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINES.

APPLICATIM FILED DEC.I8. 19h}. L1@8.,%. Patented Dec.7,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2. v"\

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ERNEST BILLINGTON, OF BROADHEATH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 LINOTYBE AND MACHINERY LIMITED, 01 LONDON,

ENGLAND.

vES'G.AIIEIllIIENCI. MECHANISM OF TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING-MACHINES.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

Application filed December 18, 1914. Serial N... 877,871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ERNEST BIL- LINGToN, a subject of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Linotype and Machinery Works, Broadheath, in the county of Chester, England, have invented new and, useful Improvements in the Escapement Mechanism of Typographical Composing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the escapement mechanism of typographical composing machines of the known class in which are provided a plurality of channeled magazines arranged columnwise, each fitted with a series of escapements, this colunm of magazines being, as a whole, adjustable so that the magazines can successively be brought into operative position relatively to the rods which are to actuate the escapements, and to the entrances or runways which conduct the devices, released from the magazines, toward the so-called assembler.

For convenience the word matrices is hereinafter used to embrace all such devices as may be contained in the magazines whether they be actually in the form of matrices or in the form of type-dies.

In some machines of the above-namedclass, provision is made for composing matrices from one magazine only of the column for each setting of the latter; for convenience, this type of machine is hereinafter referred to as the A type. In this type of machine there is provided only a, single one of the before-mentioned entrances or runways with which a selected one of the magazines is brought into register at the same time as the escapements of that magazine are brought into operative position relatively to the rods which actuate them. In other machines of the above-named class, provision is made for composing from different pluralities of magazines of the adjustable column for each setting of the latter; for convenience, this type of machine is hereinafter referred to as the B type. In this type of machine there are provided as many of the before mentioned entrances or runways as there are magazines capable of being composed from for any one setting of the column, the selected magazines being brought into register with said runways at the same time as the escapements of those magazines are brought into operative relationship to the rods which actuate them, and by the same setting.

Among the principal objects of the present invention there may be mentioned a new construction of the escapements each of which comprises two levers in permanent pivotal connection with the underside of the magazine, and has an upstanding spur passing through the bottom of the magazine, to engage with the matrices stored in the respective magazine channel; and, in connec tion with the aforesaid B type of machine, a special arrangement whereby the assembler entrance can be opened so as 'to enable free access to be had to the delivery ends of those of the magazines which at the time are in operative position.

The invention will now be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sectional side elevation of sufficient of a machine of the aforesaid A type to show the application thereto of the of the said magazine. The foremost end of each escapement lever 4,'is normally in, or slightly to the rear of, the inclined plane X-X,' occupied by the corresponding end of the respective magazine, and the rearmost end is provided with an upstanding spur 45 which passes through a slot in the bottom plate of the magazine, and, as shown in full lines in the drawings, normally projects into the respective magazine channel to retain the matrices 7 therein. The said rearmost end, at its underside, engages with the forward end of the companion escapement lever 5, which, at the rear of its pivot rod 6, is provided with an upstanding spur 5, which passes through a slot in the bottom plate of the magazine, as does the before described spur 4?, but unlike that spur, it does not normally project into the respective magazine channel.

A spring 8 secured, asordinarily, to the so I capement rods 9,

I plane X-X raised and lowered in the drawings, on each acts on each esas to reunderside of the magazine,

' tain 1t and the companion lever 4, in their respective normal positions, in which they are shown in full lines in the drawings, and to return them to those positions after they have been moved, therefrom through the actuation of the respective escapement rod 9. Stop shoulders 10, 11, p eferably as shown of the escapement levers 4 and engaging with the underside of the magazine or otherwise, serve to limit the movement of both levers 4, 5, in both directions, Obviously, instea of the stop shoulder 10 being on the front end of the lever 4, the equivalent. of it .may be provided on the lever 5 adjacent to the spur 5.

Whenin normal position the escapement rods 9 are not in engagement with'the es capement levers, their upper ends being then situated to the front "of the beforementioned that the magazines can be without their lower ends or those of the escapement levers 4 contacting therewith.

v The foregoing detailed description appliesequally well to both the A and the B types of stationary p1vot [way 14, and, at

machine illustrated in thev drawmgs. 3. v

In machines of the A type, each of the esnear its upper end, is pivoted to the swinging end of a radius link 12 whose other end is free to turn upon a 13' at the back of the runcapement rod is guided with a capacity for movement vertically and fore and aft, in a stationary guide bar 15, the arrangement i is raised, its upper, end, 1s,

The runway being such that when the escapement rod simultaneously therewith, thrust backward, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to an extent equal to the versed sine of the. angle through which theglink '12 ZI OVGS, and thereby brought'gijbeneath the .escapement lever 4 which it'is to actuate,'.thellatter part of this operation servingto actuate the escapement levers 4, 5,. also as indicated in dotted lines,

and thereby to effect the release of a-matrix the subsequent descent of the escapement rod 9, correspondinglyresults, as indicated.

inifulllines, in a return of the escapement levers;4, 5, to normalpositionand a withdrawal of the escapement rod 9 from beneath the respective escapement lever 4.

ducts the matrices 7, from then in operativeposition,

the magazine sembler" which, formingno part of the prescompanying drawings,

of the well-known assembler belt 16, which ent invention, is not represented in the acalthough conveys matrices toward that assembleris shown in Fig. 2. v, s a f In machines of the, aforesaid B ap a a lower part, the said es-' 14, as before mentioned, contoward the as-- a portion represented in Fig. 2, the escapement rods 17, 18, which directly act upon the escapement levers 4, are of approximately L-shape, the vertical members thereof terminating at their upper extremities closely in front of the inclined plane X X, and the hori zontal members overlying the ordinary vertical escapement rods 9 v which, as ordinarily, are vertically guided in a slotted guide plate 15. The L-shaped-rods 17, 18, are guided between rollers 19, and between parallel vertical plates 20 (of which only one is shown in Fig. 2), which admit of the free vertical movement of the said rods. The plates 20 are attached to the back of the. assembler plate 21-, and the rollers 19 on "pivot rods which extend transversely plates 20.

As inexisting machines,

plate 21 is capable of being the assembler swung forward horizontally about a vertical pivot situated near the right-hand side of the machine; this pivot constitutesno part of the present invention and consequently finds noplace in the drawings. When the assembler plate 21 is thus swung forward, it carries with it the L-shaped .17, 18, which are thus moved out of operative engagement with the vertical escapement rods 9, and when the assembler plate is again swung into normal position, the L- shaped escapement rods 17 18, resume their normal working relationship to the rods 9. The upper end of each of the rear L- shaped escapement rods 18 is situated just below the top of the rear plate 21 of the respective assembler entrance, or runway 22, and below the particular escapement lever 4 to be operated by it, and the'upper end of each front L- haped escapement rod 17 is situated in the runway 22 next below that (23) appertaining to the particular magazine channel containing the matrices 7 to be released by it, that is to say, it does not traverse the particular runway which pass the matrices released as a consequence of that arrangement, the width of that runway is. not restricted and, as a result, the matrices passing through that runway can be of greater thickness (providing for a bolder type face) than could be the case were the said width to be partly taken up bythe thickness of the rod 17, if th latter traversed it.

The front L- haped escapement rods 17 23 through by it, and, e

escapement rods filled in with plates24, which, at their for- Y fward edges, are of slightly than that of the said rods,

greater thickness contact with he'rear edges of those rods;

I v so as to prevent the descending matrlces from-coming into or, a similar result may be obtained by resecured to the before described rear ducing the thickness of the rear edges of the rods 17 at the parts alined with the triangular plates 24. The triangular plates 24 are sharpened at the edges presented tothe magazines, so as to offer as little surface as possible with which the matrices 7 can contact when they are released from the magazines. The

plate 21' by means of lugs on the former penetratin slots in the latter and having a wire or rot? 25 threaded through all of the lugs, at the underside or rear of the plate 21.

The runways 22, 23, are so constructed that the front one (23) together with its partition plates 26, and the platform or plate 27 which divides it from the runway 22, can be swung forward from the operative position in which it is shown in full lines, into the open position in which it is shown in dotted lines. For this purpose the platform 27 is provided at each endwith a trunnion 28 which is free to turn in a stationary bearing provided in or on the respective end wall of the assembler plate 21, and the partition plates 26 of the front runway 23 are arranged to telescope over the partition plates 29 of the rear runway 22.

he glass plate 30 at the front of the as sembler plate 21- is, as ordinarily, capable of being swung about a horizontal pivot 31 at its upper edge, so that it can be moved from its normal or closed position in which it is shown in full lines, into the open position in which it is shown in dotted lines, as for example, when it may be desired to rock the front runway 23 forward into the position in which it is shown in dotted lines, for having access to the front ends of the two magazines 1, 1, or 2, 2 then in operative position.

To the front edges of the partition plates 26, or preferably of some only of them, a celluloid or equivalent apron or guard 32 is pivoted by a rod or equivalent 33, this guard being provided, as ordinarily, for preventing the matrices 7 from contacting with the glass plate 30 and becoming damaged thereby. When the partition plates 26 are swung forward as indicated in dotted lines, the guard 32', by' gravity, hangs practically vertically beneath the pivot rod 33 and can be turned upward for giving free access to the interior of the assembler plate.

' he partition plates 26 are secured to the platform 27, near their lower ends, by lugs 34 which fit into slots in the said platform as shown in dotted lines, and near their upper ends by lugs which pass through slots in that platform and have threaded through them a wire or rod 35. he partition plates 26 and 29 are braced together by binding braces 36, 37 respectively brace 37 being so shaped as to serve alsoas fixed thereto, the

tr1angular plates 24 are all a guide or deflector for the matrices 7 descending from the lower magazine 1 or 2. p

described rods 9, may be actuated by L shaped rods similar to the rods 17 or 18 represented in Fig. 2. 7

Having described fny invention I declare that whatI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1; In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a ma azine, two pivoted to font, and insure. that instead ofbeing actuated y escapement rods moving as do the before escapement levers arranged in constant operative relation thereto and adapted to be rocked simultaneously in relatively opposite directions about respectively different parallel axes, and a single spur on each 1e ver, each spur being adapted to engage with the contents of the magazine when the other spur is not in engagement therewith.

2. In atypographical composing machine, the combination of a magazine, two pivoted escapenient levers arranged in constant operative relation thereto rocked about respectively different parallel axes, a spur on one of the said levers normally in engagement with the contents of the magazine, mally out ofv engagement with the contents of the magazine, means adapted to rock both levers simultaneously in relativelyopposite directions so as to bring the said spurs respectively out of and into engagement with the contents of the magazine, and means adapted to return the said levers to the nornal position.

3. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a magazine, two pivoted escapement levers arranged in constant operative relation thereto and in operative engagemetn with each other and both adapted to be rocked in relatively opposite directions about axes by the positive actuation of one of the said levers, a spur on one of the said levers normally in engagement with the contents of the magazine, a spur on the other lever normally out of engagement with the contents of the magazine, positive means adapted to rock one of the levers and through it the other lever so as to bring the said spurs respectively out of and into engagement with the contents of the magazine, and means adapted to return the said levers to the normal position. i

a spur on the other lever norrespectively different parallel and adapted to be of engagement with 4. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a magazine, two pivoted escapement levers arranged in constant operative relation thereto and in operative engagement with each other and both adapted to be rocked inrelatively opposite directions. about respectively different parallel axes by the positive actuation of one of the said levers, a spur on one of the said levers normally in engagement with the contents of the magazine, a spur on the other lever normally out of engagement with the contents of the magazine, a key-controlled device adapted to rock one of the levers and through it the other lever so as to bring the said spurs respectively out of and into engagement with the contents of the magazine, and a spring adapted to return the said levers to the normal position.

i 5. In a typographical composing machine, the combination with a plurality of superposed inclined magazines, the lower ends of which terminate all in the same inclined plane, and which are movable as a whole in a direction parallel with that plane to bring one or another into operative position, two pivoted escapement levers for each such magazine individually andfadapted to be rocked about respectively difierent parallel axes, one of the said levers having its forward end slightly to the rear of the said plane, means adapted to rock both levers simultaneously in relatively opposite directions, a spur on one lever normally in engagement with the contents of the magazine and a spur on the other lever normally out the contents of the magazine.

6. In a typographical composing machine, the combination with a plurality, of superposed inclined magazines, the lower ends of which terminate all in the same inclined plane, and which are movable. as a whole in a direction parallel with that plane to bring one or another into operative position, two pivoted escapement levers for each such magazine and adapted to be rocked simultaneously in relatively opposite directions about respectively difierent parallel axes, one of the said levers having its forward end slightly to the rear of the said plane and its rearward end in operative contact with v the forward end of the other lever, a spur on one lever normally in engagement with the contents of the magazine, and a spur onthe other lever normally out of engagement with the contents-0t the magazine.

7. In a typographical composing machine,

the combination with a plurality ofsuperposed inclined magazines, the lower ends ot' which terminate all in' the same inclined plane, and which are movable as. a Whole in.

a direction parallel with that plane to bring one or another into operative position, two pivoted escapement levers for each such vand a plate in magazine and adapted to rock about respectively different parallel axes, one of the said levers having its forward end slightly to the rear of the said plane and its rearward end in operative contact with the forward end of the other lever, a key-controlled device adapted to actuate the first-mentioned lever in one direction and through it the second mentioned lever in the opposite direcmagazines, a common organ adapted to receive matrices from all the magazines, and

a plurality of runways adapted to conduct I matrices to the said organ, one of the said runways being movable independently of the runway immediately adjacent to it.

9. in a typographical composing machine, the combination of a plurality of superposed inclined magazines, an escapement for each magazine, ceive matrices from all the magazines, a plurality of runways adapted to conduct matrices released by the escapements from the respective magazines to the said common organ, an escapement rod acting on the escapement of one magazine without traversing any of the runways, an escapement rod. acting on the e'scapement of another magazine and traversing a runway other than that appropriate to the matrices descending from the last-mentioned magazine, the last-mentioned runway adapted to guide the descending matrices past the traversing escapement rod.

10. in typographical machine, the combination ot a runway to receive the matrices from a magazine, an escapement actuating rod extending across the runway, and means tor'guiding the matrices laterally pastthe actuating rod to prevent their engagement therewith as they enter the runway from the magazine.

ll. Ina typographical machine, the combination of a runway to receive the matrices from a magazine, an escapement actuating rod extending across the runway, and a plate arranged between the actuating rod and the magazine and standing in the plane of the rod so as to guide the matrices past the same.

12. In a typographical machine, the com a common organ adapted to reengaged by the matrices as they pass into the runway from the magazine, for the purpose described.

13. In a typographical machine, the com-' blnation of two magazines to contain the matrices, and two runways to receive the matrices therefrom, one of said runways being movable at will from its operative position independently of the other.

14. In a typographical machine, the combination of tain the matrices, and two superposed runtwo inclined magazines to con-' 

